Electric Chain saws are often disregarded by people when they are deciding what type of saw they should buy. They do have their disadvantages but they also have some great advantages over gas powered chain saws. If your plans include trimming small trees and bucking up small amounts firewood then electric chain saws may be something to look at. Many electric chain saws have 15 amp motors which is comparable power to the 30cc range gas powered saws. Make sure to compare motor amperage when shopping for chain saws. Just like gas saws there are plenty of professional and homeowner models to chose from.
No Fuel to worry about.
Mixing fuel and oil can be troublesome if you have never done it before. Gas powered chain saws are almost always two stroke type engines and require a very accurate fuel/ oil ratio to run. Having too much or too little oil in the fuel can be very damaging to a gas powered engine. Obviously we get around this problem with an electric saw.
No toxic fumes to worry about
This is great benefit not only for the environment but for your health too. Gas powered saws have better emission standards now days but will never match electric saws for clean air emissions.
Trimming high branches
There are electric chain saws on the market that are outfitted with a long pole for reaching branches while the operator stays safely on the ground.
Disadvantages
Electric chain saws usually require an extension cord so the range is limited to the length of cord you have and it's amperage capacity . It's very important to reference this in the owners manual. The saw should always be plugged into an approved G.F.I. electrical outlet. There are some cordless chain saws on the market suitable for light duty jobs.
Most electric saws don't have complete anti vibration handles like a lot of the gas saws do. However they don't usually create as much vibration. Gloved hands are a must.
Users need to follow all safety guidelines including wearing proper safety equipment. Electric chain saws are every bit as dangerous as gas powered saws if not used properly.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Sharpening Basics
A few basic rules to sharpen chainsaw chain properly.
Always reference your saw's owners manual for proper chainsaw safety and use. In most cases your manual should have important information about your saw chain and file size.
Make sure you have the right size file to match the saw chain. The diameter of the file must match the radius of the cutter tooth's gullet. I always keep several size files handy, but I have many different size chainsaws. Hand held files are fairly cheap to buy.You should always keep a few extra around because a dull file is just as aggravating as a dull chainsaw. After several filings you will notice the file not taking nearly as much metal filings off the tooth you are filing. Pitch it in the trash and enjoy a new one!
Mark one tooth with black magic marker so it is easier to see where you start and stop filing. File each tooth from the inside of the bevel angle outwards. You should file every other tooth,then flip the saw around and file the remaining teeth the same way. Unless you have hit a rock, don't take anymore than 3 strokes per tooth. Two is usually sufficient.Excessive filing will severely reduce the life of your chain.
I always use a file holder because it will usually have a witness angle that you can line up parallel with the bar. This angle is usually 25 to 35 degrees across the face of the cutter. It is important to reference this angle to match the manufactures recommendations. The file is also usually held at an upward angle of about 5 to 10 degrees. But again, you should check with the saw chain manufacturer's specs first. I have seen a few chains that are filed a 0 degrees (horizontal)
The real key to successful sharpening is being consistent. File each cutter tooth exactly the same. An uneven chain will start to veer off course and will start to bind up in the saw kerf.
Check you owners manual on proper operation of your saw before ever using a chainsaw.
If you suspect you have filed the chain incorrectly then you should take the saw to a reputable dealer.They should have a professional that can use a bench type chain grinder to get your chain back in proper condition.
If your chain is sharp, you should be getting good production and the chainsaw will produce a good size wood chip.If your chainsaw is dull, it will take longer to get through a log and the saw will be making a lot more sawdust and not many saw chips.
One more step to sharpen chainsaw properly is correct depth gauge settings. Depth gauges are sometimes ground down with small rotary power tools such as a Dremel tool, but I like to use a flat file and a special gauge for accuracy. I talk more about depth gauges in the video on the sidebar of the site.
Always reference your saw's owners manual for proper chainsaw safety and use. In most cases your manual should have important information about your saw chain and file size.
Make sure you have the right size file to match the saw chain. The diameter of the file must match the radius of the cutter tooth's gullet. I always keep several size files handy, but I have many different size chainsaws. Hand held files are fairly cheap to buy.You should always keep a few extra around because a dull file is just as aggravating as a dull chainsaw. After several filings you will notice the file not taking nearly as much metal filings off the tooth you are filing. Pitch it in the trash and enjoy a new one!
Mark one tooth with black magic marker so it is easier to see where you start and stop filing. File each tooth from the inside of the bevel angle outwards. You should file every other tooth,then flip the saw around and file the remaining teeth the same way. Unless you have hit a rock, don't take anymore than 3 strokes per tooth. Two is usually sufficient.Excessive filing will severely reduce the life of your chain.
I always use a file holder because it will usually have a witness angle that you can line up parallel with the bar. This angle is usually 25 to 35 degrees across the face of the cutter. It is important to reference this angle to match the manufactures recommendations. The file is also usually held at an upward angle of about 5 to 10 degrees. But again, you should check with the saw chain manufacturer's specs first. I have seen a few chains that are filed a 0 degrees (horizontal)
The real key to successful sharpening is being consistent. File each cutter tooth exactly the same. An uneven chain will start to veer off course and will start to bind up in the saw kerf.
Check you owners manual on proper operation of your saw before ever using a chainsaw.
If you suspect you have filed the chain incorrectly then you should take the saw to a reputable dealer.They should have a professional that can use a bench type chain grinder to get your chain back in proper condition.
If your chain is sharp, you should be getting good production and the chainsaw will produce a good size wood chip.If your chainsaw is dull, it will take longer to get through a log and the saw will be making a lot more sawdust and not many saw chips.
One more step to sharpen chainsaw properly is correct depth gauge settings. Depth gauges are sometimes ground down with small rotary power tools such as a Dremel tool, but I like to use a flat file and a special gauge for accuracy. I talk more about depth gauges in the video on the sidebar of the site.
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My First Video
Determining the correct filing angle and depth gauge setting is important for proper chainsaw sharpening.You should also check the bar for excessive wear.If you replace the chain,it is a good idea to check the drive sprocket and bar nose sprocket for wear.This the best time to replace them because a worn out sprocket can wreck your new chain.Here is a handy chart for determining the filing angles and depth gauge setting.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
How To Sharpen Chainsaw Bars
Welcome to Sharpen Chainsaw basics for Beginners. This site provides tips and techniques for proper chainsaw sharpening so you can get the best performance from your chainsaw. If you have questions not covered in Sharpen Chainsaw basics please feel free to email your question to chainsawwizard@hushmail.com
People that own acres with trees almost always buy a chainsaw at some point to help manage their property.They are an incredible time saving tool but only if you maintain them properly.Keeping you saw sharp is the most important aspect in safety and efficient cutting. Here are tips you can use to sharpen chainsaw cutters.
People that own acres with trees almost always buy a chainsaw at some point to help manage their property.They are an incredible time saving tool but only if you maintain them properly.Keeping you saw sharp is the most important aspect in safety and efficient cutting. Here are tips you can use to sharpen chainsaw cutters.
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